REVISED 7/23/2026 AT 4:00 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 5:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Margaux Morgan
Vice Mayor: Gerry Jensen
Council Members: Joe Clarke, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman Closed Session – 4:30 PM
Closed Sessions are not open to the public and held only on specific topics allowed by State Law (noticed below). An announcement regarding the items to be discussed in Closed Session will be made in the City Hall Council Chambers prior to the Closed Session. Members of the public may, at this time, address the City Council on closed session items only. There will be a report of any final decisions in City Council Chambers during the Open Session Meeting.
i. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) One Case
Regular Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 5 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
Council Members Joe Clarke, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman, Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen, and Mayor Margaux Morgan
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda
3. Presentations
Presentations are limited to eight minutes.
4. Report on Closed Session
5. Additional Materials
Additional information related to an agenda item on this agenda and submitted to the City after distribution of the agenda packet pursuant to Government Code §54957.5. All correspondence received prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding a Council Meeting will be distributed to Councilmembers to review prior to the meeting. Information submitted after 5 p.m. on that Wednesday may not have time to reach Councilmembers, nor be read by them prior to consideration of an item.
A. Item 6 - Correspondence Received
B. Item 9B - Correspondence Received
C. Item 9C - Correspondence Received
6. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
City Council Meeting Agenda – July 23, 2026
City of Capitola Page 2
Oral Communications allows time for members of the Public to address the City Council on any “Consent Item” on tonight’s agenda, or on any topic within the jurisdiction of the City that is not on the “General Government/Public Hearings” section of the Agenda. Members of the public may speak for up to three minutes, unless otherwise specified by the Mayor. Individuals may not speak more than once during Oral Communications. All speakers must address the entire legislative body and will not be permitted to engage in dialogue. A maximum of 30 minutes is set aside for Oral Communications.
7. Staff / City Council Comments
Comments are limited to three minutes.
8. Consent Items
All items listed as “Consent Items” will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion on these items prior to the time the Council votes on the action unless members of the City Council request specific items to be discussed for separate review. Items pulled for separate discussion will be considered following General Government. Note that all Ordinances which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the special and regular meetings on June 25, 2026.
B. Declaration of Surplus Vehicles and Authorization for Disposal Recommended Action: Declare the listed City vehicles as surplus property and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to dispose of the vehicles in accordance with Administrative Policy III-8, Surplus Property.
C. Human Resources Information System Agreement
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year agreement with NeoGov in the total amount of $93,523, using a form approved by the City Attorney.
D. PLHA Resolution
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program Application 5-year plan, the PLHA Standard Agreement, and any subsequent amendments or modifications thereto, as well as any other documents that are related to the Program or the PLHA grant award.
E. California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution accepting a California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant in the amount of $200,900.32 and amending the FY 2026-27 General Fund operating budget to increase revenues and expenditures by $200,900.32 related to the grant award.
F. Grant Funding for Beach and Wharf Accessibility Improvements Recommended Action: 1) Accept grant funding totaling $43,362.63 through the Beach and Coast Accessibility Program administered by Orange County Coastkeeper and funded by the State Coastal Conservancy; 2) adopt a resolution amending the FY 2026-27 Budget to appropriate grant revenues and expenditures for beach and wharf accessibility improvements; and 3) authorize the City Manager to execute any documents necessary to implement the grantfunded improvements.
G. SUESD ELO-P Services Agreement
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a services and facility agreement between the City of Capitola and the Soquel Union Elementary School District (SUESD) for City Council Meeting Agenda – July 23, 2026
City of Capitola Page 3
Expanded Learning Opportunities Program services and the use of the Opal Cliffs facility for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, with compensation to the City in the amount of $66,000.
H. Park at Rispin Mansion Project Completion
Recommended Action: 1) Accept as complete the Park at Rispin Mansion Project constructed by Betz Works Inc. at a final cost of $1,082,118; 2) authorize the City Clerk to file and record a Notice of Completion; 3) adopt a resolution amending the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget to allocate $32,838 for final project expenditures; and 4) authorize the release of the contract retention of $52,464 as prescribed in the construction agreement.
9. General Government / Public Hearings
All items listed in “General Government / Public Hearings” are intended to provide an opportunity for public discussion of each item listed. The following procedure pertains to each General Government item: 1) Staff explanation; 2) Council questions; 3) Public comment; 4) Council deliberation; 5) Decision.
A. Public Art Statue: “To Honor the Women of the Water” Recommended Action: 1) Approve the Art and Cultural Commission’s recommendation for a public artwork titled “To Honor the Women of the Water”; and 2) direct staff to pursue a partnership with County Park Friends for a fundraising campaign to fund the fabrication and installation of the statue.
B. Fourth Public Hearing To Receive Community Input and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding the Draft Maps and Sequence of District-Based Elections & Introduction of Ordinance Recommended Action: 1) Conduct a time-certain duly noticed public hearing at 6:15 PM to receive community input and provide direction to staff regarding the submitted draft maps and sequence of elections for district-based council elections; 2) Select a District Map; 3) Select the Sequencing of the District Seat(s) to be up for election in 2028, 2030, etc.; and 4) Conduct First Reading/Introduce and waive further reading of an ordinance of the City of Capitola amending Chapter 2.04 of Title 2 of the Capitola Municipal Code to provide for the election of City Council Members by four districts with an elected mayor; establish district boundaries and election order for each district; and make other amendments.
C. Bay Avenue Corridor Safety Improvement Priorities
Recommended Action: Receive an update regarding Bay Avenue corridor safety improvements, including proposed pedestrian, bicycle, and roadway safety enhancements; review available and pending funding opportunities; and provide direction regarding implementation priorities and advancement of design.
D. Cliffwood Heights Neighborhood Rehabilitation Project Recommended Action: Approve the proposed planning scope for the Cliffwood Heights Neighborhood Rehabilitation Project and provide additional direction, if any.
E. Transportation Project Coordination and Phasing Overview Recommended Action: Receive a presentation regarding transportation project coordination, interrelationships, and anticipated project phasing and provide direction, if any.
10. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on August 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM. _____________________________________________________
City Council Meeting Agenda – July 23, 2026
City of Capitola Page 4
How to View the Meeting
Meetings are open to the public for in-person attendance at the Capitola City Council Chambers located at 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, California, 95010.
Other ways to Watch:
Spectrum Cable Television channel 8
City of Capitola, California YouTube Channel
How to Provide Comments to the City Council
Members of the public may provide public comments to the City Council in-person during the meeting.
If you are unable to attend in-person, please email your comments to [email protected] and they will be included as a part of the record for the meeting.
Notice regarding City Council: The City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola.
Agenda and Agenda Packet Materials: The City Council Agenda and the complete Agenda Packet are available for review on the City’s website and at Capitola City Hall prior to the meeting. Need more information? Contact the City Clerk’s office at 831-475-7300.
Agenda Materials Distributed after Distribution of the Agenda Packet: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5, materials related to an agenda item submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at the Reception Office at City Hall, 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, California, during normal business hours.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Disability-related aids or services are available to enable persons with a disability to participate in this meeting consistent with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Assisted listening devices are available for individuals with hearing impairments at the meeting in the City Council Chambers. Should you require special accommodations to participate in the meeting due to a disability, please contact the City Clerk’s office at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting at 831-475-7300. In an effort to accommodate individuals with environmental sensitivities, attendees are requested to refrain from wearing perfumes and other scented products.
Si desea asistir a esta reunión pública y necesita ayuda - como un intérprete de lenguaje de señas americano, español u otro equipo especial - favor de llamar al Departamento de la Secretaría de la Ciudad al 831-475-7300 al menos tres días antes para que podamos coordinar dicha asistencia especial o envié un correo electrónico a [email protected].
Televised Meetings: City Council meetings are cablecast “Live” on Charter Communications Cable TV Channel 8 and are recorded to be rebroadcasted at 8:00 a.m. on the Wednesday following the meetings and at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday following the first rebroadcast on Community Television of Santa Cruz County (Charter Channel 71 and Comcast Channel 25). Meetings are streamed “Live” on the City’s website by clicking on the Home Page link “Meeting Agendas/Videos.” Archived meetings can be viewed from the website at any time.